Motor lock

ABSTRACT

A lock device for preventing theft of outboard motors which locks the thumb screws of the mount bracket of an outdoor motor against rotation to prevent removal of the outboard motor from the transom of a boat to which it is secured.

[ 51 Mar. 21, 1972 United States Patent Thompson [541 MOTOR LOCK FOREIGN PATENTSORAPPLICATIONS 1,068,175 5/1967 GreatBritain..........................

[72] Inventor: Grady E. Thompson, 10424 Aledo Drive,

Dallas, Tex. 75228 Oct. 22, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 82,929

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Popular Mechanics- Outboard Motor Lock- July 1956, pp. 143

[22] Filed:

Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe AttorneyWalter J. Jagmin [58] Field of ABSTRACT I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS A lock device for preventing theft of outboard motors which locks the thumb screws of the mount bracket of an outdoor motor against rotation to prevent removal of the outboard motor from the transom of a boat to which it is secured.

70/232 ....70/232 Vaughn 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 2,703,501 3/1955 Wooldridge 3,287,943 11/1966 PATENTEDMARZI I972 3,650,130

Fig.3

INVENTOR. Grady E.Thompson MOTOR LOCK This invention relates to lock devices and more particularly to lock devices for locking the mount means of an outboard motor.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved lock device for locking the mount means of an outboard motor to prevent unauthorized removal of the outboard motor from the transom of a boat.

Another object is to provide a lock device for the mount means of an outboard motor which includes a mount bracket securable to the transom of a boat by a pair of thumb screws, the lock device locking the thumb screws against rotation to prevent release of the mount bracket from the transom of -a boat to which it is secured by the thumb screws.

Still another object is to provide a lock device, of the type described, having a tubular lock member for engaging the handles of the thumb screws and holding them against rotation and a padlock securable to the lock member and engageable with the handle of one of the thumb screws for locking the lock member in its operative locking position on the handles of the hand screws.

Still another object is to provide a lock device of the type described, having means for protecting the shanks of the thumb screws and the shackle of the padlocks from cutting, sawing or gripping tools when the lock device is in its operative position locking the thumb screws against rotation.

An important object of the invention is to provide a locking device for a mount bracket of an outboard motor, the'mount bracket having a pair of parallel spaced thumb screws threaded in suitable bores of the mount bracket and provided with pressure plates on their inner ends and handles on their outer ends, the locking device including a tubular lock member having longitudinal spaced slots through which the handles of the thumb screws may pass when the handles are in parallel longitudinally aligned positions, the lock member then being movable longitudinally in one direction to position lock portions of the lock member over the handles, and a padlock securable to the lock member and engageable with one of the handles to prevent movement of the lock member in the opposite direction,

Another object is to provide a lock device of the type described wherein the U-shaped shackle of the padlock is protected by the lock member from cutting or sawing tools.

Still another object is to provide a lock device, of the type described, having sleeves positionable on the shanks of the thumb screws between the mount bracket and their handle which are rotatable on the shanks and which protect the shanks against the use of gripping tools such as pipe wrenches by means of which the screws could be forcibly rotated to break the screws from their handles, and against the use of cutting or sawing tools.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and with reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an outboard motor having a mounting bracket whose thumb screws are shown locked in their operative positions by a lock device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the lock device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the outboard motor 10 shown mounted on the transom 11 of a boat 12 has a usual mount bracket 14 having substantially U-shaped portions 15 and 16 whose outer legs 17 and 18, respectively, are adapted to engage the external outer surface of the transom and whose inner legs 19 and 20, respectively, are provided with threaded bores 21 and 22 in which the threaded portions 23 and 24 of the shanks 25-and 26 of the'thumb screws 27 and 28, respectively, are receivable.

Pressure pads or plates 31 and 32 are securable to the inner ends of the thumb screws by means of threaded bores of the pressure plates in which the ends of the threaded portions of the shanks are receivable. The pressureplates 31 and 32 are adapted to engage the inner surface of the transom 11 below the usual internal top flange 33 of the transom. The outer ends of the thumb screws 27 and 28 are provided with handles 34 and 35, respectively, which extend perpendicularly relative to the shanks thereof, by means of which the thumb screws may be'rotated to move the pressure plates toward or away from the transom with the outer legs 17 and 18 of the mount bracket engaging the outer surface of the transom and the pressure plate engaging the inner surface thereof.

The lock device 40 embodying the invention is used to lock the thumb screws in their operative positions, wherein they hold the mount bracket 14 secured to the transom, to prevent theft or unauthorized removal of the outboard motor from the boat. The lock device includes a pair of sleeves 41 and 42 which are rotatably disposed on the shanks of the thumb screws 27 and 28, respectively, between the inner legs 19 and 20 of the mount bracket and the handles 34 and 35, respectively, for a purpose to be described below.

The lock device also includes a tubular lock member 44 having an enlarged handle slot 45 defined by the longitudinal surfaces 46 and 47 and the arcuate surfaces 48 and 49, of the tubular member, the width of the handle slot 45 being sufficiently great to permit the entry of the handle 34 into the interior of the lock member.

A longitudinal shank slot 50 opens to the inner end of the handle slot 45 and is defined by the longitudinal surfaces 51 and 52 and the arcuate surfaces 53 of the lock member. The width of the shank slot 50 is slightly greater than the diameter of the shank 25 of the thumb screw 27 so that when the handle 33 has been positioned in the lock member through the handle slot 45, the lock member 44 may be moved longitudinally to the left as seen in FIG. 3 to cause the shank to be positioned in the narrow shank slot 50, and a portion of the handle 34 to be positioned in the cylindrical lock portion 54 of the lock member.

The lock member is provided also with an intermediate longitudinal handle slot 55 whose width is slightly greater than the diameter of the handle 35 and is defined by the longitudinal surfaces 56 and 57 and the arcuate surfaces 58, 59 and 60. A longitudinal shank slot 61 whose width is slightly greater than the diameter of the shank 26 of the thumb screw 28 opens to the handle slot 55 and is defined by the longitudinal surfaces 62 and 63 and an arcuate surface 64 of the lock member. A portion of the handle 35 is of course receivable in the cylindrical lock portion 66 of the lock member 44.

The lock member is also provided with an aperture 71 in the portion thereof opposite the handle slot 55 and a recess 72 in its longitudinal edge or surface 57. The U-shaped shacke 74 of a padlock 75 may have its free leg 76 extend throughthe aperture 71 and its bight portion 77 is received in the recess 72.

The lock member 44 is also provided with an aperture 71:: and a recess 72a aligned therewith in which the shackle of the padlock 75 may be received when the lock member is positioned on the handles of thumb screws of shorter length than that shown. The thumb screws 27 and 28 are part of the apparatus furnished with the outboard motor and may have handles of two different sizes. For this reason the guide member is provided with the two sets of apertures 71 and 71a and recesses 72 and 72a.

in order to install the sleeves 41 and 42 on the thumb screws of the mount bracket 14, the pressure plates 31 and 32 are first removed from the ends of the threaded shank portions 23 and 24, as by unscrewing them, the shanks are then threaded out of the bores 21 and 22 of the inner legs 19 and 20 of the mount bracket and the sleeves 41 and 42 are then telescoped over the shanks. The screws are again threaded through the bores 21 and 22 and the pressure plates 31 and 32 are again secured thereto.

The outboard motor may then be secured to the transom in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 by rotating the thumb screws to cause the pressure plates 31 and 32 to engage the inner surface of the transom 11 below its inner top flange 33. The thumb screws are then rotated to cause the legs 17 and 18 to engage the outer surface of the "transom and the pressure plates to engage the inner surface of the transom.

Whenit is desired'to lock the handles of the thumb screws against rotation to prevent unauthorized removal of the outboard motor from the boat, the handles 34 and 35 are rotated so that they are in longitudinal alignment. This may require that one or the other of the pressure plates engage the transom with somewhat less force than the other. However, the inner ends of the thumb screw shank will still extend below the internal flange of the transom and the pressure plates will still be located below the internal flange 33 of the transom and will still engage the inner surface thereof. The lock member 44 is than positioned in alignment with the handle and moved over the handles which are receivable in the lock member through the handle slots 45 and 55 thereof. The lock member is then slid to the left to substantially the position illustrated in FIG. 3 so that the innerend portions of the handles 34 and 35 extend into the cylindrical lock portions 54 and 66, respectively, of the lock member. The shanksof the thumb screws are now positioned within the shank slots 50 and 61, respectively.

The movement of the lock member to the left is now limited by the engagement of the sleeves 41 and 42 withthe arcuate surfaces 53 and 64 of the lock member. The sleeve 41 extends from the outer surface of the leg 19 of the mount bracket, to substantially the longitudinal surfaces 51 and 52 of the lock member 40 and the sleeve 42 extends from the outer surface of theinner leg 20 of the mount bracket to substantiallythe surfaces 62 and 63 of the lock member.

The leg 76 of the shackle 74 is now moved outwardly through the apertures 71 until its free end extends outwardly of the lock member at which time its bight portion is received at the slot 72. The padlock is then pivoted about the leg 74 and its free end is positioned in the usual socket of the padlock. The shackle of the padlock now extends through the handle slot 50 and in position to engagethe end surface 90 of the handle so that the lock member cannot now be removed from the handles of the thumb screws.

. A thief will now have extreme difficulty in removing the outboard motor from the transom of the boat since he cannot forcibly rotate the thumb screws with a pipe wrench to break off the handles from the shanks of the thumb screws because the sleeves 41 and 42 are rotatable on the shank of the thumb screws. Sawing of the rollers 4l and 42 will be extremely difficult and time consuming since the sleeves are rotatable on the shanks and it would be extremely difiicult in the confined space to hold the sleeves against rotation and at the same time the location of the mount bracket of the inner legs 19 and 20 of the mount bracket. i

It will now be seen that a new and improved lock device has been illustrated and described which'is easily and quickly installable on the handles of a thumb screw of a mount bracket of an outboard motor and locked thereon by a padlock so that the thumb screws cannot be rotated to release the mount bracket and therefore, the outboard motor for removal from the transom by a thief or other unauthorized person.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. Alock device for an outboard motor which includes a pair of screws having shanks threaded in a mount bracket of the outboard motor and elongate handles on outer ends of shanks extending perpendicularly relative thereto, said lock device including: a tubular lock member having longitudinally aligned and spaced first and second handle slots through which the longitudinally aligned handles of the screws may pass into the tubular lock member, a first longitudinal shan slot opening at one end to said first handle slot and a second longitudinal shank slot opening at one end in the same longitudinal direction as said first shank slot to said second handle. slot, said shank slots being of smaller widths than said handle slots, said lock member being movable longitudinally in one direction on the handles after the handles have been positioned in said lock member through said handle slots to cause the shanks of the screws to be positioned in said shank slots; and lock means connectable to said lock member and engageable with one of the handlesfor preventing movement of said lock member in a second direction opposite said one direction whereby said lock member prevents rotation of the screws.

2. The lock device of claim 1, wherein said tubular lock member has stop means engageable with the shanks of the screws for limiting movement of said lock member relative to said shanks in said one direction.

3. The lock device of claim 2, wherein one of said slot handlesis defined by spaced parallel upper and lower longitudinally extending surfaces of said lock member and said lock means comprises a padlock having a substantially U-shaped shackle having a pair of parallel legs and a bight portion con necting the legs, said lock member having an aperture therethrough aligned with said handle slot and an arcuate recess in said lower longitudinal surface whereby one leg of said shackle may extend through said aperture and its bight portion be received in said recess when said padlock is in operative locked position. i

4. The lock device of claim 3, and a pair of sleeves rotatably mounted on the shanks of they screws between the mount L bracket and the lock member and extending substantially the full length of the portions of the shanks between the mount v bracket and said lock member.

use a hacksaw therein. It is also very difiicult if not impossible 5. The lock device of claim 4, and a pair of sleeves rotatably disposed on said shanks and extending substantially the full length of the portions of the shanks between the mount bracket and said lock member.

I s s t n 

1. A lock device for an outboard motor which includes a pair of screws having shanks threaded in a mount bracket of the outboard motor and elongate handles on outer ends of shanks extending perpendicularly relative thereto, said lock device including: a tubular lock member having longitudinally aligned and spaced first and second handle slots through which the longitudinally aligned handles of the screws may pass into the tubular lock member, a first longitudinal shank slot opening at one end to said first handle slot and a second longitudinal shank slot opening at one end in the same longitudinal direction as said first shank slot to said second handle slot, said shank slots being of smaller widths than said handle slots, said lock member being movable longitudinally in one direction on the handles after the handles have been positioned in said lock member through said handle slots to cause the shanks of the screws to be positioned in said shank slots; and lock means connectable to said lock member and engageable with one of the handles for preventing movement of said lock member in a second direction opposite said one direction whereby said lock member prevents rotation of the screws.
 2. The lock device of claim 1, wherein said tubular lock member has stop means engageable with the shanks of the screws for limiting movement of said lock member relative to said shanks in said one direction.
 3. The lock device of claim 2, wherein one of said slot handles is defined by spaced parallel upper and lower longitudinally extending surfaces of said lock member and said lock means comprises a padlock having a substantially U-shaped shackle having a pair of parallel legs and a bight portion connecting the legs, said lock member having an aperture therethrough aligned with said handle slot and an arcuate recess in said lower longitudinal surface whereby one leg of said shackle may extend through said aperture and its bight portion be received in said recess when said padlock is in operative locked position.
 4. The lock device of claim 3, and a pair of sleeves rotatably mounted on the shanks of the screws between the mount bracket and the lock member and extending substantially the full length of the portions of the shanks between the mount bracket and said lock member.
 5. The lock device of claim 4, and a pair of sleeves rotatably disposed on said shanks and extending substantially the full length of the portions of the shanks between the mount bracket and said lock member. 